MVC Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2023-24 season

Mar 5, 2023; St. Louis, MO, USA; Drake Bulldogs guard Tucker DeVries (12) celebrates with head coach Darian DeVries during the second half against the Bradley Braves in the finals of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /

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Kendall Lewis #22 of the Illinois State Redbirds (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) /

8. Illinois State Redbirds – Head Coach Ryan Pedon

2022-23 record: 11-21 overall, 6-14 in the MVC

This could be our biggest mistake in these power rankings. The Redbirds have some scary pieces and could achieve far greater things than we’re saying by ranking them eighth. Illinois State head coach Ryan Pedon returns three solid starters in Kendall Lewis, Darius Burford and Malachi Poindexter. Veteran guard Luke Kasubke started 13 games and is a team leader.

Joining one of the league’s most stable returning core is a unique set of transfers and a number of high ceiling freshmen. This group could land anywhere from fourth to eighth this season.

Lewis is a great defender with a versatile game. While averaging 10.9 points, the 6’7 forward was the Valley’s third leading rebounder (7.3 per game) and recorded 24 blocks, 46 steals and 45 assists. Burford and Poindexter are senior guards that do damage in every aspect of the game. Kasubke is solid from deep and enters his second season at Illinois State after significant time spent at Kansas State. He is a glue-guy, but much more.

Monmouth transfer Myles Foster is a 6’7 forward who scores and rebounds (12.5 points & 6.6 rebounds) but isn’t truly an outside threat. Two Big transfers bring some immediate toughness and more senior experience to the Valley’s oldest team. Jordan Davis started 18 games at Wisconsin last season and 7’1 senior Brandon Lieb travels down the interstate from the University of Illinois. Lieb didn’t see much game time in Champaign but gives the Redbirds a uniquely sized player for Valley opponents to face.

Four highly touted freshmen will get a chance to contribute, but also learn from these veteran players. Ty Pence is a top-200 player nationally from the Land of Lincoln. He tallied over 2,300 career prep points. Fellow guard Johnny Kinziger was the State of Wisconsin’s co-‘Mr. Basketball’ and a three-time all-state player.

6’9 Chase Walker was a top ten player from Ohio and Ty Blake is another freshman guard with great potential.

Returners Harouna Sissoko and Ryan Schmitt are players who could still contribute. Sissoko played for the international team from Mali this summer.

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